https://www.rferl.org/z/23337 RFE/RL's latest news, features, commentary, and multimedia content on Lebanon, Israel, Hezbollah, Syria, and Iraq. https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/23337 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:11:24 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL As Washington debates whether the recent cease-fire with Iran reflects strategic restraint or strategic drift, retired US Colonel David Des Roches says the broader trajectory of the conflict tells a different story. https://www.rferl.org/a/david-des-roches-iran-us-war-hormuz/33795511.html https://www.rferl.org/a/david-des-roches-iran-us-war-hormuz/33795511.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:13:55 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East US Vice President JD Vance has again signaled that the White House is prepared to use force against Iran if diplomacy fails, raising the stakes around a 60-day memorandum of understanding (MOU) that has halted open hostilities but left the core disputes unresolved. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-military-option-talks-cfr-vance/33793182.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-military-option-talks-cfr-vance/33793182.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:26:49 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Qatar's Foreign Ministry said no high-level meeting between US and Iranian officials is scheduled in Doha in the coming days, after US President Donald Trump said Iran had requested talks and the White House announced senior US envoys would travel to Qatar for negotiations. https://www.rferl.org/a/qatar-no-us-iran-talks-doha/33791989.html https://www.rferl.org/a/qatar-no-us-iran-talks-doha/33791989.html Tue, 30 Jun 2026 13:36:49 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iranian state media and outlets close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps have uniformly condemned the US-brokered Israel-Lebanon framework agreement, calling it a 'document of shame' that legitimizes Israeli occupation and betrays Lebanese sovereignty. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-lebanon-israel-framework-deal-condemn/33791135.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-lebanon-israel-framework-deal-condemn/33791135.html Mon, 29 Jun 2026 18:03:07 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iran has claimed no talks are scheduled with the United States in the coming days, despite US President Donald Trump saying that Tehran had "requested a meeting" and that negotiations would take place on June 30 in the Gulf state of Qatar. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-attacks-hormuz-negotiations/33791011.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-attacks-hormuz-negotiations/33791011.html Mon, 29 Jun 2026 07:48:16 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East A fragile truce between Iran and the United States appeared increasingly shaky early on June 28 as both sides accused one another of violating an interim agreement meant to halt months of fighting, amid renewed missile, drone, and air strikes across the Gulf region. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-hormuz-cease-fire-violation-kuwait-bahrain-trump/33790546.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-hormuz-cease-fire-violation-kuwait-bahrain-trump/33790546.html Sun, 28 Jun 2026 11:17:20 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East Amid an ongoing row between Washington and Tehran over whether international monitors can verify Iranian compliance with its nuclear nonproliferation commitments, former officials have told RFE/RL that the scale, scope, and degree of access are crucial to the success of inspections. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-verification-nuclear-iaea/33788603.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-verification-nuclear-iaea/33788603.html Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:25:20 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain this week on his first official visit to the Gulf since the outbreak of the Iran war and just days after Washington and Tehran signed a framework agreement aimed at bring peace to the region. https://www.rferl.org/a/rubio-gulf-us-iran-framework-hormuz/33786331.html https://www.rferl.org/a/rubio-gulf-us-iran-framework-hormuz/33786331.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:02:04 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Vice President JD Vance said "good progress" was made in negotiations on a framework toward reaching a final peace deal within 60 days, including the guarantee of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, an end to fighting in Lebanon, and Tehran's acceptance of visits by IAEA inspectors. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-united-states-burgenstock-roadmap-war/33786170.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-united-states-burgenstock-roadmap-war/33786170.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:16:39 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East High-level talks are now under way between US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian representatives at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland, launching what could become the most consequential diplomatic effort yet to stabilize the Middle East after near four months of war. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-talks-switzerland-hormuz/33785567.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-talks-switzerland-hormuz/33785567.html Sun, 21 Jun 2026 10:26:41 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East Israeli strikes have killed dozens in south Lebanon despite the US-Iran memorandum's first clause calling for an end to the war there. Tehran is facing a rising chorus from hard-liners demanding a response. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-lebanon-israel-war-us-agreement-pressure/33785116.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-lebanon-israel-war-us-agreement-pressure/33785116.html Sat, 20 Jun 2026 12:16:43 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The Iran framework agreement gave an immediate boost to markets, with shares rising and oil prices dipping. But whether this translates into durable economic gains will largely depend on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-hormuz-shipping-revival-trump/33783948.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-hormuz-shipping-revival-trump/33783948.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:13:29 +0200 News AnalysisFeaturesIranThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East While the U.S. and Iran have reached a historic agreement to restore stability in the Strait of Hormuz, the path to a full global energy recovery is dangerously lopsided https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-energy-prices/33783923.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-energy-prices/33783923.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:12:51 +0200 IranThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The US-Iranian deal to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz is inevitably being compared with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed with Tehran by then US President Barack Obama. So how do they stand apart? https://www.rferl.org/a/obama-iran-deal-trump-agreement/33783735.html https://www.rferl.org/a/obama-iran-deal-trump-agreement/33783735.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:33:06 +0200 News AnalysisFeaturesIranThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East US President Donald Trump said the United States could resume military action against Iran if he is dissatisfied with the implementation of the memorandum of understanding reached between Washington and Tehran. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-us-iran-deal-talks/33783001.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-us-iran-deal-talks/33783001.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 14:41:02 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East US President Donald Trump said a framework agreement to be signed with Iran this week makes it "loud and clear" that Tehran will not develop or acquire nuclear weapons as the two sides try to move toward ending their war. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-deal-iran-nuclear-weapons/33782189.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-deal-iran-nuclear-weapons/33782189.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:38:48 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East Iranians say they have been warned by security officials not to speak to US-funded Persian-language media, such as RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, amid a crackdown in which the Iranian authorities say they have charged increasing numbers with espionage for “cooperation with the enemy.” https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-fear-crackdown-protests-dissent-media/33781430.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-fear-crackdown-protests-dissent-media/33781430.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:32:46 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The United States and Iran have electronically signed a framework deal to end the three-month-long war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, senior US administration officials said on June 15. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-peace-agreement-pakistan-israel-lebanon/33780270.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-peace-agreement-pakistan-israel-lebanon/33780270.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 01:40:12 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East Qatari negotiators flew to Tehran early on June 14 in a bid to finalize an agreement between the United States and Iran to end the monthslong conflict, but renewed Israeli attacks on Iran's ally Hezbollah in Lebanon earlier the same day could potentially delay the signature. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-qalibaf-trump-qatar/33780190.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-qalibaf-trump-qatar/33780190.html Sun, 14 Jun 2026 16:25:55 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East